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ISSN 1001-5256 (Print)
ISSN 2097-3497 (Online)
CN 22-1108/R
Volume 42 Issue 4
Apr.  2026
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Article Contents

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic cholangiopathy

DOI: 10.12449/JCH260406
Research funding:

Bethune Charitable Foundation Project (BCF-LX-XH-20221014-07)

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  • Corresponding author: WEI Bo, allyooking@163.com (ORCID: 0000-0001-5438-1257)
  • Received Date: 2026-02-26
  • Accepted Date: 2026-03-21
  • Published Date: 2026-04-25
  • Ischemic cholangiopathy (IC) is a severe clinical condition resulting from blood supply impairment in bile ducts, and its etiology includes vascular causes and non-vascular factors. The pathogenesis of IC mainly involves microcirculatory disturbance of the peribiliary blood plexus and biliary epithelial necrosis and fibrosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury. The clinical manifestations of IC are highly heterogeneous. The typical symptoms include jaundice, abdominal pain, and cholangitis, while non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, often cause delays in diagnosis. The diagnosis of IC mainly relies on radiological examination for identifying characteristic stenosis and microcirculatory disturbance, assisted by cholestasis biomarkers including alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Therapeutic strategies include conventional pharmacotherapy, endoscopic intervention, and innovative techniques. Prognostic evaluation emphasizes the dynamic monitoring of alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin and classification based on radiological examination, and long-term management requires individualized monitoring regimens to prevent complications.

     

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